Roots Television | Megan's Roots World

Genealogical Round Up, July 30

Keep up on the Save the Library of Michigan initiative here. Remember August 5th!
Michigan Genealogical Council

The woes of the John Does
Nation & World | This John Doe is the real deal | Seattle Times Newspaper

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh. Tomorrow should be interesting.
Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoon Index

Sounds like classic John Philip Colletta! He was the first genealogist I ever saw speak. Took a few of his classes at the Smithsonian.
Deseret News | Author warns of pitfalls in writing narrative family history

A grave debate about headstone art | Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/29/2009

Keep spreading the word!
Changes at library worry genealogists | lansingstatejournal.com | Lansing State Journal

I've been wondering about this for years . . .
Mourning the Death of Handwriting - TIME

I'm both grateful and proud to say this is the project I've been a part of for the past decade. As an Army brat, I'm privileged to have had the opportunity to locate literally thousands of family members for soldiers still unaccounted for from Southeast Asia, Korea, WWII and even WWI. I love this "work" and it means the world to me.
blogs.ngm.com

Matt Poe interviews Bennett Greenspan of FamilyTreeDNA.com at the SCSC Jamboree on @rootstelevision
Free Genealogy Conference Videos on Roots Television: Lectures, education, presentations, workshops,

I think we all saw this one coming a mile away . . .
Why Guinness would be good for Obama, Crowley and Gates | Irish News | IrishCentral

PaDNP (Pennsylvania Digital Newspaper Project)

Am going to repeat my request for folks to help Andrew Carroll on his HereIsWhere.org initiative to uncover and mark our hidden history. Andrew is the best-selling author of books like "Letters of a Nation" and "War Letters," and founder of the amazing Legacy Project (www.WarLetters.com) which has already saved a remarkable 80,000 war letters (no kidding). In this latest undertaking, he's going to all 50 states. You can contact him via his HereIsWhere.org site or on Twitter (@HereIsWhere). And you can follow his HereIsWhere blog on www.Blogs.NationalGeographic.com. Please help spread the word! Thanks!
Here Is Where

Family thankful for genealogy memorial

Love this latest project of Andy's! If you know of any of our nation's hidden history, please let him know!
On a Mission to Mark Places of Long-Forgotten Historic Moments - NYTimes.com

Black scholar agrees to beer with Obama, policeman | Reuters

More on the important efforts to help save the Library of Michigan. Please help if you can!
ARTICLE - Crisis Facing the Library of Michigan. By Shirley C Hodges

A family on a mission.
SalisburyPost.com - Lifestyle - Woodruff brothers learn more about their family history

Thanks for the shout-out on the Haley DNA story @Blaine_5!
Using DNA to Explore the Scottish Roots of the Haley Family » The Genetic Genealogist

Genealogical Round Up, July 23

Matt Poe interviews Tom Kemp of GenealogyBank.com on RootsTelevision.com at the recent SCGC Jamboree.
Free Genealogy Conference Videos on Roots Television: Lectures, education, presentations, workshops,

Archaeologists find graveyard of sunken Roman ships | Science | Reuters

Save the Library of Michigan!
OCGS Message -- Rally at the Library of Michigan

I don't know how many of you caught last night's press conference, but President Obama remarked on Skip Gates and what happened last week in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Some of us have already been discussing it here over the last few days.

Many know that Skip is a MacArthur Genius grant winner, a Harvard professor, and so forth. But he's also a champion of genealogy - the fellow responsible for bring genealogy back to PBS. When he was arrested, he had just arrived home from taping a segment in China on Yo-Yo Ma's roots for next year's series, Faces of America. He's also a champion of genetic genealogy which has received steadily more attention in each of his series, and will be a particular focus of attention in FoA. Because of this and the incident itself, I'm going to keep an eye on this. Also, I've mentioned this in earlier discussions, but in the interest of full disclosure, he's a friend.
Obama: Police who arrested professor 'acted stupidly' - CNN.com

The Jewish Exponent - Philadelphia, PA

Shalom, and Salaam - by Allison Hoffman > Tablet Magazine - A New Read on Jewish Life

Genealogy as Must See tv | American in Ireland | IrishCentral

Obama looking at his deep roots
P072009PS-0244 - Barack Obama | Government News from the White House and Congress - Senate/House of

Enjoyed being a part of this reunion!
DNA Proves Scottish Roots of (Alex) Haley Family:

The silver lining of the Burr Oak scandal! Burr Oak Cemetery Opening Online Records Database
Burr Oak Cemetery Opening Online Records Database

Racial talk swirls with Gates arrest - The Boston Globe

Shades of UnclaimedPersons.org. Oregonians act as ‘next of kin’ for unclaimed dead
Oregonians act as 'next of kin' for unclaimed dead - OregonLive.com

Katherine Hope Borges of ISOGG with @dickeastman on RootsTelevision.com with a genetic genealogy success story!
Free Genealogy Conference Videos on Roots Television: Lectures, education, presentations, workshops,

Brief video tribute (2 mins) to Frank McCourt:
Free Irish Genealogy Videos on Roots Television: Ireland, Immigration, Annie Moore, Family History

Disturbed to hear that Skip Gates was arrested for "breaking in" to his own house.
Blog-AroundHarlem.com » Blog Archive » Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Arrested

Frank McCourt passes away. So glad I got to meet him at Ellis Island. RIP.
Frank McCourt, late-blooming author of 'Angela's Ashes,' dies at 78 - Los Angeles Times

OK, after this, I don't want any grief re: Smolenyak Smolenyak! Kelly Hildebrandt to wed…Kelly Hildebrandt?
Pair with same first, last name to wed - TODAY: Relationships

Drew Smith talks with Dick Eastman on RootsTelevision.com about FGS & his social networking book   
Free Genealogy Conference Videos on Roots Television: Lectures, education, presentations, workshops,

What About Grandma? « AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com

Genealogical Round Up, July 16

Coming records will help some w/enslaved ancestors get back to Africa! 200 Years of St. Croix-Virgin Islands
Ancestry.com Launches One of the Most Comprehensive Collections of Caribbean Slave Records

Unsettling to see Michael Jackson in the Social Security Death Index, isn't it?
Roots Television | Megan's Roots World: Michael Jackson in Social Security Death Index

This season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (UK)
I'll never forgive my bigamist grandad: How Kim Cattrall discovered the shocking truth about her Eng

Dear Myrtle with Dick Eastman on RootsTelevision.com:
Free Genealogy, Family History Videos on Roots Television

Cool idea- an iPhone app for a digital archive
Digital Collections Blog » Library Digital Collections? There’s an App for That.

If all commercials were like this, I probably wouldn't mind watching them!
Evian Roller Babies international version

Michael Jackson in Social Security Death Index

It's always so strange finding someone in the SSDI for the first time. Unsettling, isn't it? Tends to make it more real and more final. This is an entry I didn't anticipate viewing for many years to come.

Genealogical Round Up, July 9

I agree. Do you? Social Security Numbers: a Non-Issue:  
Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter: Social Security Numbers: a Non-Issue

RootsTelevision.com video interview of Andrew Wait of Ancestry.com by Dick Eastman:
Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter: Video Interview: Andrew Wait of Ancestry.com

Thanks for the shout-out, EWGS! See you in Washington in September!
Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Blog: Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak

Speaking of iPhone apps, . . .   
Pocket Cemetery: Virtual Graveyard for the iPhone | Technology News

Because you can never get enough funny tombstones:
Humorous Headstones - Funny Slogans and Light-Hearted Designs for the Dead (GALLERY)

The Generations Network Becomes Ancestry.com

23andMe on a zeppelin, apparently flown in LA as folks waited for the July 4th fireworks
23andMe Time Lapse Decal Application to Airship Eureka

Will be interesting to see how this turns out. The DNA aspect sounds pretty convincing on the surface, but I say that without seeing any more than this 25% matching claim. Stay tuned!
Solution to a Longtime Mystery in Utah Is Questioned - NYTimes.com

Another reason to like Craig Ferguson.   
4th of July + Craig Ferguson = Awesome

Thanks for the shout-out in your podcast, Angela!   
African Roots Podcast #14 July 3, 2009 « African Roots Podcast.com

Blaine's well-argued critique of a critique.   
A Critique of Genetic Ancestry Testing in Science Magazine » The Genetic Genealogist

Genealogical Round Up, July 2

Susan Boyle in Dublin!
Susan Boyle dedicates Irish show to mother Bridget | Entertainment in Ireland and Around the World

What's your take?
Exhumation of 1812 war hero stirs controversy

Having seen all the tweets re: Jeff Goldbum's alleged death last week, I found this video pretty amusing.  
Jeff Goldblum Confirms his own Death | GeekTyrant

Not going to say which celebs, but I worked on this show. As Blaine indicates, there will be substantial emphasis on DNA.
Latest Genetic Genealogy Series “Faces of America” Expected From PBS in 2010 » The Genetic Genealogi

ISOGG newsletter with mtDNA success story from Bill Hurst!
ISOGG Newsletter June 2009

Here's your chance to ask whatever you want to know about Ellis Island:
Ask About the Statue of Liberty - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

Nothing startling, but a well-written piece
Among Many Peoples, Little Genomic Variety - washingtonpost.com